F1 LIVE: Piastri dismantles Mercedes myth, Antonelli credits debut for newfound control

Oscar Piastri believes Mercedes are far from untouchable after completing his first Grand Prix of the 2026 season.

The Australian, who secured a podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, successfully held off George Russell’s Mercedes through much of the opening stint. However, his efforts were ultimately undone by a Safety Car triggered by a crash involving Oliver Bearman.

Despite missing out on victory in Suzuka and finishing 15 seconds behind race winner Kimi Antonelli, Piastri remains convinced that Mercedes can be beaten – particularly given the exceptional level of execution required to stay at the front in Formula 1.

The 25-year-old emphasised that having the fastest car alone is not enough to guarantee success, before also drawing encouragement from his ability to keep Russell at bay for a significant portion of the race.

While Piastri believes the Mercedes team have a soft underbelly, Antonelli has expressed growing confidence in his ability to fully control his driving this season after securing back-to-back race victories.

The Italian, who endured a turbulent rookie campaign, has settled into life in 2026 with remarkable ease. Antonelli has already claimed three Grand Prix podiums, including victories at both the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.

Quizzed about how much he has levelled up this campaign and his impressive start to the season, Antonelli noted how important the learning curve from his rookie year was, before admitting he feels more in control of his overall situation at Mercedes.

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